Herald-Advocate News

Published on Thursday, May 3, 2018

Blessing Box provides food for those in need

Blessings can come in many forms.One form is a wooden box with a glass door located off Highway 38 at the beginning of Pineview Road.Inside the box is a small supply of nonperishable food items such as soups, green beans, and dried beans. Each food item has a piece of paper with Bible scripture -- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation-- is from Romans 10: 9-10 on it. And written on the box in bright blue lettering is "You are welcome to take what's needed."The Blessing Box is a way for the members of Blenheim Community Church to help others in need.Church member Tim Branch said they have always wanted to do something for the homeless but realized it was hard to build a shelter without funding.Branch had seen Blessing Boxes in other places and thought it would be a good idea to do one here."We are doing this to reach people and to help people who are less fortunate than we are," he said. "There are a lot of kids and adults who don't have anything to eat. If they don't have anything to eat, we want them to be able to come and know they have a place to come to if they are hungry."The box was installed in mid-April and was an instant success. Branch said the first night the box was installed, people came and almost emptied it. "It has just taken off," he said.The Blessing Box has been refilled several times. The box is held up with a cross. "We wanted to make sure there was a cross on it," he said.Church members Herbert Hale built the cross while Carey Shelley built the box.But the members of Blenheim Community Church don't want to just have one there.Branch said they want to have boxes all over the county. "It is not about our church. It is about showing that someone loves them," he said.The owners of Carolina Signs and Screen Printing of Bennettsville donated the lettering for the box. People are encouraged to come to the Blessing Box if they need food . Branch added if someone is not needy but would like to donate food items, they can just come to the box and donate.Other plans for the Blessing Box include adding plastic utensils and bottled water.Two more boxes are being built. Branch said they don’t have them out yet but they are looking in Clio for a location to place one.The cost is about $80 for materials to build a box. To make a donation to have a box built or to put food items inside one, call Branch at 843-862-7550 or message him on Facebook.